February 19 - Paul McCartney's single "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" (which was inspired by the "Bloody Sunday" massacre in Ireland on January 30, 1972) is banned by the BBC. The controversy caused by the banning only increases the song's popularity and it ends up in the Top 20 in England.

May 2 - Stone the Crow[?] lead guitarist Les Harvey[?] is electrocuted on stage during a show in Swansea, Wales[?] after touching a poorly connected microphone. Harvey died in a hospital a few hours later.The band's lead singer, Maggie Bell[?], who had been Harvey's longtime girlfriend, was also hospitalized. Bell collapsed on stage after the incident.

The best selling album of the year in the United States. Features hits such as "Heart of Gold" and "Needle and the Damage Done". The album blends country music and rock and roll and a degree of experimentalism, all led by Young's guitar and songwriting talents.